ISLAMABAD: The National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) on Monday took notice of the killing of a 17-year-old Christian boy at a school in Burewala town and sought a report on the matter from the district police officer concerned.

The teenager was reportedly killed by classmates with his family claiming the attack was religiously motivated.

NCHR chairman retired Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan expressed concern over the boy’s lynching allegedly by his Muslim classmates, an official statement stated.

“The NCHR will protect and promote human rights of all minorities without any discrimination and condemn such acts of violence not only at school but everywhere,” it said, quoting Mr Chowhan. Minorities, it added, were equal to other citizens of Pakistan.

He said the incident was reflective of the school’s poor administrative control as it was not able to perform its functions faithfully.

Mr Chowhan asked for a detailed report from the Vehari police officer under Section 9 of the National Commission for Human Rights Act 2012 over the killing.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2017